COTR Library Information Literacy Skills Development Sessions

Research Source Types

1 | U p d a t e d J u n e , 2 0 1 4 , | J A K

All of these information sources can be found online or in print, depending on how the publisher makes them available. This list will help you understand the benefits of using each of these types of sources.

Books: In-depth info on a specific topic

Scholarly books have bibliographies; follow up to check the info and find additional sources

Information can be dated. Check the publication date.

Scholarly journals and articles: Scientific and technological discoveries are reported in detail in peer-reviewed journals.

Journal articles are reviewed & evaluated by other experts prior to acceptance

In-depth original research

Analysis of research

Overview of research

Cited sources/bibliographies/reference lists

Study narrow and specific subjects

Discipline-specific, technical jargon geared to scholars & students in the field

Conference papers:

Papers presented at a formal gathering of peers

Ground-breaking research

Papers later published in the conference proceedings

Newspapers:

Current events info

Overview analyses of trends, issues

Primary source material

Product development, industry news, and company histories

Few or no cited sources

Popular magazines:

Brief information on diverse, broad general-interest topics

Entertainment, leisure reading

Little technical language or jargon

Not much in-depth info

Few or no cited sources

No bibliographies/reference lists

Encyclopaedias and Handbooks:

Concise overviews of a variety of topics, which can be helpful if you are just beginning your research and need background information on your topic.

Directories:

Lists of companies within an industry or according to certain criteria

Find specialists in an area that you’re researching